Sometimes, people feel like they can’t keep going. They may be tired, sad, or feel like nothing is working. When that happens, they might start to give up. It’s not always easy to say how this feels, so people use metaphors. A metaphor compares one thing to another without using “like” or “as.” These help us understand feelings better.
Metaphors about giving up show what it feels like when someone stops trying. They help paint a picture in your mind. For example, saying “he waved the white flag” helps us see someone who has stopped fighting. In this article, we will look at 30 metaphors that explain what giving up can feel like. These phrases can help you understand others and also talk about your own feelings. Let’s explore what these sayings really mean.
Metaphors About Giving Up
1. Throw in the towel
Meaning: To quit or stop trying.
Example Sentence:
– After losing five times, she threw in the towel.
– He threw in the towel and stopped studying for the test.
Other ways to say: Give up, stop trying
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from boxing. A fighter’s team throws a towel into the ring to stop the match.
Usage: When someone has had enough and wants to stop.
2. Wave the white flag
Meaning: To surrender or admit defeat.
Example Sentence:
– The team waved the white flag after falling far behind.
– I waved the white flag during the hard puzzle.
Other ways to say: Surrender, give up
Fun Fact/Origin: In war, a white flag is used to ask for peace or surrender.
Usage: When someone no longer wants to fight or try.
3. Hit a wall
Meaning: To feel stuck or unable to go on.
Example Sentence:
– I hit a wall with my math homework.
– She hit a wall during her run and couldn’t finish.
Other ways to say: Get stuck, reach your limit
Fun Fact/Origin: Runners use this to describe when their energy suddenly runs out.
Usage: When someone can’t continue due to stress or tiredness.
4. Let the ship sink
Meaning: To stop trying to fix a bad situation.
Example Sentence:
– He let the ship sink instead of asking for help.
– They let the ship sink by ignoring the problem.
Other ways to say: Stop caring, let things fail
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from sailors who stop trying to save a sinking ship.
Usage: When people give up on saving something.
5. Drop the ball
Meaning: To stop doing something important.
Example Sentence:
– He dropped the ball and didn’t turn in his project.
– I dropped the ball by missing the meeting.
Other ways to say: Mess up, fail to follow through
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from sports, where dropping the ball means a mistake.
Usage: When someone fails or gives up on a task.
6. Lay down your arms
Meaning: To stop fighting or trying.
Example Sentence:
– The kids laid down their arms and stopped arguing.
– She laid down her arms and gave up on the idea.
Other ways to say: Surrender, stop pushing
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from soldiers putting down weapons in peace.
Usage: Used when someone gives up during a conflict.
7. Let go of the rope
Meaning: To stop holding on or trying hard.
Example Sentence:
– He let go of the rope and gave up the climb.
– I let go of the rope after many tries.
Other ways to say: Give up, stop trying
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from climbing or tug-of-war games.
Usage: When someone finally decides to stop trying.
8. Give up the ghost
Meaning: To stop working or living.
Example Sentence:
– The car gave up the ghost and wouldn’t start.
– My phone gave up the ghost last night.
Other ways to say: Break down, stop working
Fun Fact/Origin: This old phrase means the spirit has left, often used for machines or people.
Usage: When something or someone quits completely.
9. Let the fire die
Meaning: To stop caring or trying.
Example Sentence:
– She let the fire die on her dream of singing.
– He let the fire die after being told no.
Other ways to say: Lose interest, stop dreaming
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from fire needing fuel to keep going.
Usage: When someone loses hope or motivation.
10. Throw up your hands
Meaning: To show you’ve had enough.
Example Sentence:
– He threw up his hands and left the room.
– I threw up my hands when the puzzle got too hard.
Other ways to say: Quit, feel hopeless
Fun Fact/Origin: This is like saying “I give up” with your body.
Usage: When someone is done trying.
11. Hang up your boots
Meaning: To stop doing something, especially after doing it for a long time.
Example Sentence:
– He hung up his boots after coaching for 20 years.
– She decided to hang up her boots and retire from the game.
Other ways to say: Retire, stop doing
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sports when players stop and hang up their gear.
Usage: Used when someone quits for good.
12. Let it slip through your fingers
Meaning: To stop trying and lose something.
Example Sentence:
– I let the prize slip through my fingers by not finishing.
– She let the chance slip through her fingers.
Other ways to say: Lose out, miss a chance
Fun Fact/Origin: Like sand or water slipping away if not held tight.
Usage: When someone gives up and misses an opportunity.
13. Fold like a lawn chair
Meaning: To give up very easily.
Example Sentence:
– He folded like a lawn chair during the first round.
– She folded like a lawn chair when she heard bad news.
Other ways to say: Quit quickly, give in
Fun Fact/Origin: Lawn chairs fold easily, like someone who gives up too soon.
Usage: Used to describe someone who doesn’t try hard.
14. Walk away from the table
Meaning: To stop being involved in something.
Example Sentence:
– He walked away from the table after the deal failed.
– She walked away from the table during the argument.
Other ways to say: Quit, leave the situation
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from card games or business talks.
Usage: When someone decides to stop taking part.
15. Let the air out of the balloon
Meaning: To lose energy or hope and give up.
Example Sentence:
– The news let the air out of the balloon.
– His team let the air out of the balloon after the first loss.
Other ways to say: Lose hope, give up
Fun Fact/Origin: A balloon slowly going flat shows fading excitement.
Usage: When things lose energy or fun.
16. Close the book on it
Meaning: To stop thinking or working on something.
Example Sentence:
– She closed the book on her dream job.
– I closed the book on that idea after too many problems.
Other ways to say: Move on, give up
Fun Fact/Origin: Like ending a story that’s over.
Usage: When someone decides it’s time to stop.
17. Pull the plug
Meaning: To stop something from continuing.
Example Sentence:
– They pulled the plug on the project.
– I pulled the plug on my plan to go camping.
Other ways to say: Cancel, shut down
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from unplugging machines to stop them.
Usage: When someone ends an activity or plan.
18. Hit the brakes
Meaning: To slow down or stop something.
Example Sentence:
– He hit the brakes on his big idea.
– She hit the brakes and stopped training.
Other ways to say: Stop, pause
Fun Fact/Origin: From driving, where brakes slow a car.
Usage: When someone stops their efforts.
19. Sink into the ground
Meaning: To feel like disappearing from shame or giving up.
Example Sentence:
– I wanted to sink into the ground after the mistake.
– She felt like sinking into the ground and quitting.
Other ways to say: Feel embarrassed, want to give up
Fun Fact/Origin: This shows how someone feels defeated or ashamed.
Usage: Used when someone gives up due to embarrassment.
20. Turn off the lights
Meaning: To shut everything down and stop.
Example Sentence:
– He turned off the lights on the project.
– They turned off the lights and closed the shop for good.
Other ways to say: End things, stop
Fun Fact/Origin: Turning off the lights means it’s the end of the day or event.
Usage: Used when something ends fully.
21. Let the wind out of your sails
Meaning: To lose energy or drive and stop trying.
Example Sentence:
– Failing the test let the wind out of my sails.
– She lost the race, and it let the wind out of her sails.
Other ways to say: Lose motivation, feel deflated
Fun Fact/Origin: Boats move with wind; no wind means no movement.
Usage: When someone loses drive or energy.
22. Run out of steam
Meaning: To lose energy and stop.
Example Sentence:
– I ran out of steam halfway through the project.
– He ran out of steam while cleaning his room.
Other ways to say: Get tired, slow down
Fun Fact/Origin: Steam engines stop when there’s no more steam.
Usage: Used when someone gets too tired to continue.
23. Hit the ground and stay down
Meaning: To fall and not get back up.
Example Sentence:
– After losing the game, they hit the ground and stayed down.
– He hit the ground and stayed down after the bad news.
Other ways to say: Stay defeated, not try again
Fun Fact/Origin: From sports or fights, when someone doesn’t get up.
Usage: When someone gives up completely.
24. Let the curtains fall
Meaning: To end something, often finally.
Example Sentence:
– She let the curtains fall on her acting career.
– He let the curtains fall after years of trying.
Other ways to say: End, finish
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from plays when the curtain drops at the end.
Usage: When someone ends a chapter of their life.
25. Quit cold turkey
Meaning: To stop something suddenly.
Example Sentence:
– He quit cold turkey and stopped playing video games.
– She quit cold turkey and never looked back.
Other ways to say: Stop at once, give up fully
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used for quitting habits.
Usage: When someone stops something fast and fully.
26. Let the train pass
Meaning: To let an opportunity go without trying.
Example Sentence:
– He let the train pass on trying out for the team.
– She let the train pass without even applying.
Other ways to say: Miss a chance, give up
Fun Fact/Origin: Like missing a train that won’t come back.
Usage: When someone doesn’t even try.
27. Let it sink
Meaning: To allow something to fail.
Example Sentence:
– They let the project sink after the budget was cut.
– She let it sink instead of helping.
Other ways to say: Let it fail, give up
Fun Fact/Origin: Similar to a ship that sinks when not saved.
Usage: When people give up on helping or saving something.
28. Roll over and play dead
Meaning: To stop trying and give up completely.
Example Sentence:
– He rolled over and played dead after one setback.
– She just rolled over and gave up.
Other ways to say: Give in, stop fighting
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from animals pretending to be dead.
Usage: When someone stops all effort.
29. Let the music stop
Meaning: To end the fun or action.
Example Sentence:
– When she left, the music stopped.
– They let the music stop on the party early.
Other ways to say: End the fun, stop the event
Fun Fact/Origin: Like music stopping at the end of a dance.
Usage: When something fun or lively ends suddenly.
30. Drop anchor and stay put
Meaning: To stop moving forward.
Example Sentence:
– He dropped anchor and stopped trying new things.
– She dropped anchor and gave up on changing jobs.
Other ways to say: Settle, stop progressing
Fun Fact/Origin: Boats drop anchor when they want to stay in place.
Usage: Used when someone gives up on moving forward.
Quiz: Metaphors About Giving Up
Instructions: Choose the correct meaning for each metaphor. Each question has one correct answer. Use what you’ve learned from the metaphors to find the best choice.
Question Key
1. What does “throw in the towel” mean?
A) To start something new
B) To try your best
C) To stop trying and give up
2. If someone “waves the white flag,” what are they doing?
A) Asking for help
B) Showing they’re ready to fight
C) Giving up or surrendering
3. What does “hit a wall” mean?
A) To feel like you can’t keep going
B) To get excited
C) To build something strong
4. If a person “drops the ball,” what happened?
A) They completed a task well
B) They failed to do something important
C) They played catch
5. What does it mean to “let the ship sink”?
A) To go sailing
B) To let a problem grow without fixing it
C) To rescue something quickly
6. What does “pull the plug” mean?
A) To end something
B) To plug something in
C) To fix a machine
7. If someone “lets go of the rope,” what are they doing?
A) Trying harder
B) Stopping their effort
C) Holding on stronger
8. What does it mean when someone “runs out of steam”?
A) They get a burst of energy
B) They finish a race
C) They become too tired to continue
9. What does “let the wind out of your sails” mean?
A) To go faster
B) To lose energy or hope
C) To sail smoothly
10. What does it mean to “close the book on it”?
A) To end or stop something
B) To read more
C) To tell a story
11. What does “let the curtains fall” mean?
A) To take a nap
B) To end a performance or task
C) To fix the curtains
12. What does “drop anchor and stay put” mean?
A) To keep moving
B) To stop and stay in one place
C) To pick up speed
Answer Key
- C – To stop trying and give up
- C – Giving up or surrendering
- A – To feel like you can’t keep going
- B – They failed to do something important
- B – To let a problem grow without fixing it
- A – To end something
- B – Stopping their effort
- C – They become too tired to continue
- B – To lose energy or hope
- A – To end or stop something
- B – To end a performance or task
- B – To stop and stay in one place
Wrapping Up
Metaphors about giving up can show us how people feel when they stop trying. These sayings help us understand emotions like feeling tired, stuck, or ready to quit. Whether it’s “throwing in the towel” or “letting the wind out of your sails,” each one paints a picture in our minds. Learning these can help you talk about feelings in a better way.
Keep in mind, giving up isn’t always bad. Sometimes it means it’s time to try something different. And that’s okay.
